I came to write tonight with a different topic in mind but, as fate would have it, I’m sitting in my backyard watching the skies for the Northern Lights and realizing that I feel lucky to be at Minot. Now this is not something I ever thought I would say. I remember when my husband joined, I told him that if he ever got stationed here, I would stay with my mom, and he could come visit. I had listened to the rumors and had let them take over my thoughts before even stepping foot anywhere near North Dakota. But now, here I am. We’ve been here for eight months now, and I have found myself growing to like this place more and more. Minot isn’t perfect, but I challenge those to find me a place that is.

Minot gets a bad rep due to one thing, the winters. I will never tell you that the winters are not cold here. They can be brutal, but the town and the base have found ways to get you out of your house by offering indoor facilities for everyone to use. We have a large gym with an indoor pool and track, we have two indoor playgrounds for parents to take their kids and run the energy out. We have the Turf where parents can take their kids to ride their bikes in the winter or people can host workout classes to get people out of their house. Not to mention, in town there is an abundance of indoor things for everyone to do.
Minot has a lot to offer beyond the experience you will have with winters. I want to push you to see that and appreciate that. This base has offered me one of the strongest senses of community I have had at any base. It has a sense of safety in the area and local kindness. There are incredible events on and off base to attend and enjoy. Families are welcomed everywhere and appreciated. Overall, it is a great place to live.

This article is primarily for the newcomers and people who have just received orders to Minot that feel a sense of panic and dread. But it also is here to serve as a reminder of some of Minot’s highlights to those that have been here for a while. No base or city will be perfect in every way, it’s all about what you make of it. So, get out, explore, and find your place in Minot. It’s worth giving a shot.